I was walking round the pack one day when I thought I heard my name mentioned. I hated to eavesdrop but felt that it was important for to know what was being said about me. So, I hid behind a house, close to the speakers.

It was the Beta and one other warrior.

'I feel for Millicent. She has suffered alot and now, the Alpha is using her while pretending to care for her', Beta Daniel said. He was the Beta I had danced with at Sylvester's and Cathania's engagement party.

'But he might just end up really caring for her', the warrior said, smiling. 'It has been known to happen that while pretending to care, one actually starts caring!'

'I doubt Alpha Sylvester will ever care for Millicent', Beta Daniel continued. 'He is just using her to secure his throne as Alpha'.

'How so?' the warrior asked bemused. 'Is he at risk of losing his throne?'

' Do not tell me you did not know the outcome of the meeting held after the engagement party between Alpha Sylvester and Cathania', Beta Daniel continued. 'The council of elders told him that it was mandatory for him to have his fated mate beside him or risk losing the throne to the sole leadership of his twin brother, Christopher, or to a new person entirely'.

'You mean, due to that, he decided to look for Millicent and bring her back and not because of any tender feelings he has for her?' the warrior asked, shaking his head. 'That's so mechanical. Is Cathania aware of this?'

'Yes it is', Beta said. ' And yes, Cathania is in on it as well. Millicent is just going to be Luna for a while. Once the throne is secured, Cathania will take over and Alpha will find a reason to reject Millicent as his Luna and make Cathania his one and only Luna'.

I wanted to listen more but I heard footsteps and looking round saw some people coming and had to creep away, my heart thumping. Anger filled my very soul. I had wondered how the man had changed over night and had actually stated believing and liking him. But it was good that I overheard this conversation. It will help me remember why I am really here and put me right back on track.

I was so furious with myself for allowing Sylvester make a fool of me and with myself for falling for his tricks. I wanted to go to him right away and tell him I was no longer interested in being his Luna but on second thoughts, I decided against it. If I strategized very well, then this game Alpha Sylvester seemed to be playing, I would play along and turn the cards against him!

So furious was I that I did not watch where I was going until I found myself in the 'Restricted garden'.

The Restricted Garden was where Alpha Sylvester took his rest when he did not want to be disturbed. It was out of bounds to everybody.

I was about to turn back when I heard a female voice.

That voice! I thought. I could recognize it anywhere. It belong to no other than Cathania.

'Do you know how it feels to be away from you and keep imagining what you must be doing with that filthy maid?' Cathania sulked.

'I know but you don't have to be jealous. Remember we are just using her. I virtually have her feeding out of my hands. I shall not be surprised if she is already head over heels in love with me', Alpha Sylvester said, and I bit my lip, seething. What arrogance! Then I smiled maliciously. Head over heals in love with you, indeed! Keep dreaming! I thought to myself.

'Oh Moon goddess! How can anyone be so callous? And this is the same person you have cursed me with as my mate?' I shut my eyes to erase the pain I felt.

'Anyway, we shall stick to the plan. Stay away from me. I shall act as though we have nothing in common', I heard Sylvester say.

'This had better be fast. I am getting impatient', Cathania said snuggling even closer into his arms.

'Be patient my love. After the council is satisfied, I shall be free to do as I please. Imagine being mated to the daughter of the murderer of my parents!'

Murderer of his parents? I nearly exclaimed aloud. My father would never murder anyone who was innocent. He must be referring to someone else.

I did not know what to feel as different emotions pulsed through me. I forgot for a second where I was and stepped on a tin. It made a sound loud enough to make the lovers pull apart.

'Who's there?' Alpha Sylvester barked. 'Step out, immediately!'

I tiptoed away as fast and as silently as I could. Raph had thought me that during my stay with them. By the time Alpha Sylvester leaped to the spot where I had stepped on the tin, because I knew that was the next thing he would do if the intruder refused to step out, I was long gone.

When I had got out of earshot, I ran straight up toy room, my heart was beating very fast. Nothing ever escaped Sylvester and I didn't want to be caught. So I quickly drank a cup of water and jumped into bed, pulling the bed covers over me.

Not long after, I heard my door open with a bang. I knew of course it was Sylvester. He must have smelt me in the bushes. I had not remembered to camouflage my smell. Too many things on my mind. I will have to come up with a good excuse, I thought frantically, but decided to bluff my way through first.

'Who's...', I started, turning to look towards the door. 'Oh, it's you. But couldn't you knock before barging into my room?' I asked, injecting irritation into my voice.

'Millicent...', he called and hesitated.

'Yes?' I answered, rubbing my eyes with my hand and yawning. 'Please be quick with what you have to say, I have a splitting headache'.

'Were you in the restricted area just now?' he asked, looking at me intently, trying to gauge my reaction.

'Restricted? What do you mean restricted area?' I feigned ignorance.

'I mean my private garden', he said, irritation in his voice.

'Oh, your garden? Why would I go there?' I asked nonchalantly, deriving pleasure at the irritation I heard in his voice. It was high time he felt what he made others feel by his callousness and heartlessness.

'Maybe to spy on me?' he asked.

'Really?' I asked, sitting up on the bed and narrowing my eyes. Acting time!

'Why would I spy on you?' I asked bemused. 'Should I spy on you? Is there something you are doing against me that I should know about?' I asked curiously.

'No, not that!' he said quickly. 'I felt someone watching me as I meditated in my garden and it interrupted my thoughts and I don't like that which is why I do not allow anyone into that place'.

'Rest assured, I did not go near your precious garden!' I said as though that was the last thing I would ever want to do. ' You are a fast wolf, how come you didn't catch them - whoever they were?' I asked to draw suspicion away from me. Anyway, that's really your problem. If we are done here, can I go back to sleep?'

'Please do', he said as he walked out of my room, looking back at me with confusion.

Sylvester's POV

I walked into my garden to meet with Cathania as we usually did since I brought Millicent back into the pack. I could not afford at this time to meet her outside and anyway, no one comes into my garden except they wanted to face my wrath. It was not called the 'Restricted Garden' for nothing.

'Do you know how it feels to be away from you and keep imagining what you must be doing with that filthy maid?' Cathania sulked, as soon as I joined her there.

'I know but you don't have to be jealous. Remember we are just using her. I virtually have her feeding out of my hands. I shall not be surprised if she is already head over heels in love with me', I said.

'Anyway, we shall stick to the plan. Stay away from me. I shall act as though we have nothing in common', I advised Cathania.

'This had better be fast. I am getting impatient', Cathania said snuggling even closer into my arms.

'Be patient my love. After the council is satisfied, I shall be free to do as I please. Imagine being mated to the daughter of the murderer of my parents!' I said, drawing her closer.

I smelt Cathania's arousal and I was excited myself but as I was about to start kissing Cathania, I heard a sharp sound. It sounded like someone throwing a thin or stepping on it. I pulled away from Cathania.

'Who's there?' I barked, already planning the punishment to give the person. 'Step out, immediately!'

Everywhere was quiet and no one stepped out. In anger, I leapt to the spot I had heard the sound but found no one there.The person couldn't be that fast.I sniffed but was confused because mingled with the scent of the Sundrops flowers which was the dominant flower in the garden, I could smell Millicent. Sundrops were most werewolf's preferred flower because it blooms during a full moon.

But that was the farthest thing in my mind right now. If Millicent had been here, where was she? I thought to myself. She couldn't be that fast!

I motioned to Cathania to leave and quickly went to check if Millicent was in her quarters.

I opened the door without knocking, hoping to catch her unawares but she was in bed and covered to the neck with the bed covers.

I was confused. I would have sworn that I smelled Millicent there or could I have been mistaken? No one had ever been as fast as I am and I had been very fast in pursuing the intruder because I needed to protect my secret plans.

At the sound of the door opening, Millicent turned round, 'Who is...', she started, hesitated and continued, 'Oh, it is you. Could you not have knocked?' she asked, irritation showing on her face.

I was even more confused. If she had been there and heard what he had been saying to Cathania, surely, she would not be this calm? She would have got her bags ready to leave based on their standing agreement. She is acting as she normally did.

'Millicent...', I called and hesitated, not knowing how to phrase the question. This was the first such a thing was happening to me. I was never short of words.

'Yes?' she answered, rubbing her eyes with her hand and yawning. 'Please be quick with what you have to say, I have a splitting headache'.

Could the headache have been brought on by what she had heard?

'Were you in the restricted area just now?' I asked, looking at her intently, trying to gauge her reaction.

'Restricted? What do you mean restricted area?' she asked.I was irritated. I had no time for games. It was true I just brought her back into the pack but she had been here for a long time before being exiled, so she knew the Restricted Garden. But it was also possible that she had forgotten.

'I mean my private garden', I enlightened her stifling my irritation because of what I needed from her.

'Oh, your garden? Why would I go there?', she asked nonchalantly.

'Maybe to spy on me?' I asked.

'Really?' she asked, sitting up on the bed and narrowing her eyes at me.

Here it comes, I thought, the accusation of me deceiving her with Cathania.

'Why would I spy on you?' she asked, instead, bemused. 'Should I spy on you? Is there something you are doing against me that I should know about?' she asked curiously.

'No, not that!' I said quickly. 'I felt someone watching me as I meditated in my garden and it interrupted my thoughts and I don't like that which is why I do not allow anyone into that place'.

'Rest assured, I did not go near your precious garden!' she said as though that was the last thing she would ever want to do. 'But you a very fast wolf, couldn't you catch them, whoever they were?' Then before I could answer, 'Anyway, that is your problem. If we are done here, can I go back to sleep?'

'Please do', I said as he walked out of her room still looking at her with a mixture of feelings. I did not know if I should believe that she was not the one or if I should not. But I will definitely investigate the case further.

'But if she is not the one, then what is the use investigating the case?' My wolf, Ezra asked. 'The person might probably have run away in fright and may not have heard anything. Only the sight of you must have immobilized him!'

'How do you know it's a male?' I asked.

'How do you know it's not?' he countered.

'Do you know something I don't?' I asked him suspiciously.

'You are being paranoid!' and he kept quiet which was exactly what I had hoped to achieve. I did not want Ezra's input right now. I needed to think on the next course of action to take. But come to think of it, if Millicent was not the one in the garden, whoever was dared not expose my secret because they of course knew what lies ahead for anyone who antagonizes me. So they wouldn't dare step ony toe!

Millicent's POV

I heaved a sigh of relief as soon as I heard the door shut behind him and his footsteps descend the stairs.

As much as I was furious that Alpha Sylvester had lied to me and was using me, I still could not stop thinking about what he had said about my parents or someone killing his parents. Was he using that as justification for his evil deeds? My parents if they were the people he was referring to could not have killed anyone without cause and definitely not a fellow Alpha and his Luna. My father was a kind man and not a murderer. So it could not possibly be my father Sylvester was referring to. With that, I wiped that off my mind and focused on how I was going to teach Sylvester to deceive me.

I was still contemplating, when there was some noise outside. It was not my business, so I decided to continue to indulge in my thoughts. But the noise became much and I felt a nudge to go out and find out what the ruckus was all about.

I stepped out of my room and found that the noise was actually louder now. I descended the stairs gingerly but a force seemed to be pulling me down. Also, what was that smell? I thought. It was the smell of lemon and cinnamon. A combination I loved. As I got into the reception hall, I found that everyone seemed to be in a festive mood, especially the high officials and council members.When had they gathered? Did Sylvester call for a meeting? But that was not what drew my attention.

Standing in the middle of the noise and festivities was a tall man, brood shouldered, twinkling grey eyes, like someone making a joke of another and a mouth that was hard but turned down at the corners as though in amusement. I could not help myself as my eyes travelled down to his waist, very tiny waist below a flat stomach. His biceps were very attractive and his hands were quite large.

Down his waist, I could imagine how huge his shaft must be. At the thought of that, I felt myself going hot all over and my face went red in embarrassment and mortification. Surprisingly, it didn't stop me as I looked at his long, strong legs, then back at his face, such a handsome face not unlike that of Alpha Sylvester's but where Sylvester's was hard and cruel, his was softer and this made him more handsome and fascinating. And those eyes were far better than Sylvester's icy cold eyes that showed he had no soul. Else, he looked exactly like Sylvester.Who could it be? Sylvester's relative?

'Mate!' my wolf leaped happily inside me.

Mate? How was that even possible? I thought. 'Didn't you say Sylvester was our mate?' I asked wolf Milly. 'How come this new comer is our mate as well?'

'I'm not sure. But you can feel the pull, can't you?'

I didn't answer.

'I know you can', Wolf Milly said. 'You can't deny it'.

The specimen was also starring at me in a predatory manner. I blushed again. What was happening to me? This must be the way one felt when they met their mate. It was an exciting feeling but why had I not felt it with Sylvester? There must have been a mistake somewhere. Maybe he was not really my mate and wolf Milly had been mistaken or the moon goddess had decided to rectify her mistake by unburdening me with that cursed mate, I thought hopefully.

He must have been staring too hard at me like I was doing to him because I sensed several eyes following the direction of his eyes. With great effort I broke eye contact with him and looked at the council of elders whose eyes were also on me as I stood rooted at the bottom of the stairs. They must have seen the way I was gaping at this handsome stranger because they whispered amongst themselves and I felt they must have read my attraction to this stranger in my eyes, my face went hot again. I could not help myself as I looked at 'him' again, something seem to keep drawing my eyes to him. I saw that he was not aware that we were drawing the attention of others to ourselves and if he knew, he seemed not to care. Incredible!

I heard someone clear their throat and as I managed to tear my eyes away yet again, I saw it was Alpha Sylvester.

'Millicent, please come here, my dear', he said smiling. I looked at him, and remembered what had transpired in the garden not too long ago between him and his lover Cathania. I walked elegantly towards him. I had learnt to walk like royalty when I was in my pack. I had a tutor who taught me these things. And I knew I had a naturally charming gait and I put it to good use now, so that no one would think of me as the wretched maid of yesteryears. And in addition to teaching me mortal combat, Ralp had taught me how to school my features so that my feelings did not show on my face.

'This is my mate, Millicent and the soon - to - be Luna of this pack', Sylvester said and this announcement caused the man to stop in his tracts, and turned shocked eyes at Sylvester.

Sylvester went on speaking. 'And Millicent, this is Alpha Christopher, my twin'.

I was taken aback. All my anticipation and excitement at the sight of Christopher were crushed. His twin? But of course why didn't it occur to me as soon as I saw the likeness? I hadn't known that Sylvester had any siblings, talk more of a twin. Being his twin would definitely mean that he is exactly the same as he. They were from the same womb, shared the same umbilical cord since they were identical twins. I could see the uncanny likeness now. I cried out my denial in my mind, 'No!' as in frustration, I felt my hopes dash. The moon goddess has done it again, just when I though she was rectifying the past mistake!

I saw the man called Christopher halt in his tracks because he had been walking towards me, and turned to stare at his brother Sylvester. He turned back slowly to look at me with narrowed eyes as though trying to find out something from me.

I offered my hand. 'It is a pleasure meeting you', I smiled for the sake of all present. They didn't have to know my thoughts.

He took my hand. He shook it firmly, looking deep into my eyes, 'The pleasure is all mine!' he said, and I felt an undertone of something in his voice that heated me up again, making me think of mating.

'Get your act together!' I screamed at Milly. 'Stop acting like a bitch on heat!'

And Milly giggled like a love - struck fool.

As our hands connected in the handshake, I felt something not akin to electricity pass through me and I shivered, looking into his eyes which were equally electrifying. It was as though he was looking into my very soul and I felt it drawing me in. I jerked my hands away as though I had been scalded, and looked at Alpha Sylvester who was looking coldly at his twin brother. Then surprisingly, Sylvester drew me possessively to his side, smiling down at me.